I am a little bit confused as to the identity of the Thimble mill. It is stated by the Victoria History to be “above the point where Thimble Mill Lane crosses the Hockley Brook”. Although it is not clear whether this is only before it was rebuilt “At some time between 1758 and 1833 …. a few hundred yards further downstream” . However it seems to be assumed that it is the same as the Nechells metal rolling mills which are south of where thimble mill lane crosses the Hockley Brook. As can be seen from the attached map (had to cut it back a bit so I could post it, the railway is in the top left corner and thimblemill lane just seen in the top right corner), according to the map , the road in the picture is not in the right position compared to the railway, unless ot courde the position of th eroad changed. Incidently , apparently the railway to the gasworks which must be the one in the picture, was built around 1884. Anyway this is the mill that is claimed to be thimblemill

From what I read it seems to have moved around a little, Originally the mill was driven directly by the Hockley Brook (Aston Brook) then at a later time they dug out some ponds to drive the mill and increase power. I would imagine it would have been moved then.

Later when it was converted to electricity the rolling mills are said to have been built on top of the old Thimble Mill and millponds when they were filled in. From then on it became known as Nechells Mill.

Perhaps we should ask time team to do a dig there, I'm sure they would find lots of interesting features.

I have just notice a photo you posted page 136 post #1486 is a reverse shot of the one above of Nechells park mills wich I think is taken from Mount street, it seems to be allotments in the forground and background of the two pictures as for Mount pleasant that name puzzles me? it looks like the road with the houses is Stanley road?

Yes I would agree that the road you can see is Stanley Road, what you have to remember about some of these old names is that they hark back to times when Nechells was countryside and farms. Nechells Gasworks was built on Primrose Hill, although I couldn't imagine it being known by that name 50 years ago, it is beginning to turn a little greener once again. As for Mount Pleasant I think that the top of many hills in Birmingham were called this, probably because of the pleasant outlook from the top of the hill. I can think of two other Mount Pleasants just off the top of my head.